Formula 1 drivers are intrigued to try the new Sprint Qualifying format as session times for the British Grand Prix are revealed.
Last month, it was confirmed three GPs would trial the alternative weekend layout, which sees traditional qualifying take place on Friday to decide the grid for Saturday’s 100km sprint race, with the results of that then used to form the starting order for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Points will also be given to the top three drivers (1st = 3, 2nd = 2, 3rd = 1), and now we know exactly how the Silverstone weekend will look.
The main change is a much later Friday schedule that sees qualifying take place at 6pm UK time.
Sprint Qualifying will be at 4:30pm on Saturday and is expected to last around 30 minutes, while the Grand Prix has also been pushed back to 3pm on Sunday.
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Explaining the motivation for trying the format, F1 motorsport boss Ross Brawn had an interesting response…
“Young people don’t necessarily want to watch two hours of racing on a Sunday afternoon, so we may find a short format of racing is more appealing to them,” he was quoted by RacingNews365.
“But we don’t want to disorientate our loyal fans who are really the core of our sport, so can we find a combination?
“That’s what we’re testing. So we’ll do three races this year, we’ll take stock, and then we’ll decide what the next step is for the future.”
As for the drivers’ response, some have been sceptical of the idea but are now willing to give it a try.
“I’ve always said that we need to have some sort of different format throughout the year at some tracks,” said world champion Lewis Hamilton.
“So I like that they are being open-minded and making changes. I think from those experimental weekends, hopefully, the sport will learn lots on how we can deploy better races moving forwards.”
One criticism in recent years is races have become too much about management, and Charles Leclerc thinks Sprint Qualifying will add a new dimension to the race weekend.
“I think the main important thing is that it doesn’t devalue the Sunday event which is the main race, and this should remain the main race,” noted the Moneasque.
“But to have a sprint race might be interesting and we’ll see also the cars being pushed to the max from the first lap to the last lap, which will be nice for us drivers.”
One dissenting voice was Sebastian Vettel, for whom the idea made “no sense”, now though he’s among those interested to try it.
“It makes the weekend, I think, a bit more intense,” said the German. “You have less time to prepare, you have to come up with your final set-up very quickly after you first hit the track.
“But it’s going to be the same for everyone and we’ll soon find out how it feels, if we like it, if people like it, what it might bring to the weekend.”
Finally, Fernando Alonso, who has tried many qualifying formats during his F1 career, can sense the excitement Sprint Qualifying will bring.
“I think it’s good. It’s a new, fresh idea to spice things up a little bit, so why not? We at least should try,” he told Sky Sports.
“This is the season to try it because in 2022 there are high hopes for a better Formula 1, but things can be done in 2021 meanwhile.
“There are some things we all like as a spectator at home to watch, such as qualifying. It’s a moment of adrenalin and stress for everybody.
“The start we like, so we will have this two times, one start on Saturday and first-corner action, one on Sunday, so why not? Nobody can say right now if it’s a good or bad thing, but we all agree that it’s good to try.”